A Pennsylvania family was ordered by their homeowner’s association to take down their Jesus Christmas display after one of the neighbors reported it as offensive.
Mark and Lynn Wivell of Adams County, a Gettysburg subdivision, said they put up their Jesus display last Saturday, FOX43 reported.
“As part of our Christmas decoration, we would display the name Jesus to point out to everyone that we in this family believe that the reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus,” said Mark Wivell told FOX43.
But the homeowner’s association wasn’t having it.
On Sunday, the association told the family to take down the sign after a neighbor complained it was offensive. The homeowner’s association also claimed the display was a sign, not a decoration – which is a violation of the rules, USA Today reported.
“After taking a look at it, it isn’t in accordance with normal Christmas decorations,” Bud Vance, the Courtyards president, wrote in a statement to the Gettysburg Times.
The Wivells insist they are following the rules.
“We have ordinances with regard to Christmas decorations, and my Christmas decorations comply with the HOA ordinances on Christmas decorations,” Wivell said.
Offensive? A couple was told by a Links at Gettysburg HOA that they had to take their sign down after a complaint. Thoughts? @CBS21NEWS pic.twitter.com/jOg6njpKd2
— Michael Gorsegner (@MikeGorsegner) December 22, 2017
The Wivells also said many others supported their right to display the sign.
“When this happened, we were really shocked,” Lynn Wivell said. “We have gotten tremendous support from our neighbors here at the Links and that just makes us feel so good.”
The family said they have no plans to take down the sign until January 15, when the association requires all displays to be taken down. Family members said they are unsure which neighbor was offended.
“People get offended by different things, but just because something offends you, doesn’t mean the whole world has to change to accommodate you, so I would say please be more tolerant,” Mark Wivell said.
Board members told FOX43 in a statement that it was “unfortunate” they were being portrayed as Scrooge.
“It is, indeed, unfortunate that our attention has been unnecessarily redirected in this manner with a suggestion that Scrooge is alive and well in our community,” the statement read. “Many of our families will be in church on Monday with their spirit diminished by this attack.”
“People get offended by different things, but just because something offends you, doesn’t mean the whole world has to change to accommodate you, so I would say please be more tolerant,”
Sure, that sign can come down, right after that giant menorah is removed from the White House lawn, and all those MLK statues get taken down too.
I agree the Jewish hate symbol needs to be pulled down and burned in a giant gas oven.
LMAO! Agree.
They should put up a muslim flag, then see what happens.hehehehehehe. if they complain, then ask them which one they want.
If you don’t like it then don’t look at it and stfu.
Redhorse, me thinks you’ve never lived in an HOA! HOAs were built for nosey neighbors and control freaks! (And some POAs are getting that way as well.)
Jesus Christmas display after one of the neighbors reported it as offensive. Please tell me this is fake news
I haven’t done thorough research into this but the whole HOA/POA whackadoodle started in the early 70s and maybe even the 60s when suburbia really began getting underway, as a way for local governance and municipality bureaucrats to create more and more subdivisions for more govt. control. Having worked as an office manager for the POA out here I know there are (besides covenants and bylaws put out by the HOA/POA) thousands upon thousands of “condominium” laws out there to further regulate people’s lifestyles under the guise of “management” of property or areas around the home. In fact is it very hard to find a house nowadays that is NOT in an HOA or a property in a rural area now that is not in a POA. and don’t’ forget–all HOA/POA covenants and bylaws MUST follow state and federal laws and guidelines.
Question: does anyone in an HOA ever challenge the right of a home owner to put up a menora, under the nonsense “threat” of being called “anti-semitic”?
And who wants to lay bets that the “complainer” was either an atheist or a Jew? (or both? My guess is an atheist–Jews tend to live only in Jewish communities…)
I couldn’t care enough to BE an atheist, but I care LESS how people want to celebrate or demonstrate or enjoy. Don’t go chopping heads off, or demand everyone pay for some oddball lifestyle? I’m good.
2nd, in San Diego, biiiig article on what a profitable racket HOA’s have become. Ferocious bidding to win these cash-cow contracts.
Outrageous fees collected. License to steal, basically.
Some cost a 2nd mortgage – or more.
Out here?
$450-800/month is ‘average’.
I guess if you live in a place like that you have to expect a not-too-bright crowd of people, if they’re willing to be FLEECED like that.
DL.,
I grew up in south Florida. It was a really neat place to be a kid way back when…no crime, no problems…very segregated. Just don’t go near the beach during the 5 weeks of spring break!! LOL
Then, 1970 happened. All these New Yorkers et al. moved down and started building these giant filing cabinets along the beach! Suddenly, there was no more ocean breeze and my parents had to purchase a window shaker A/C unit…that’s right…we grew up with no air conditioning….we didn’t need it back then! Now, along with these condos came a new form of government: Condo Associations! In adulthood, I’ve used this as a form of education for the stupid…”What type of government does the United States have” I will ask. “A democracy!” is ALWAYS the answer. “No…it’s not”, I explain….”it’s supposed to be a Democratic Republic”.
“What does that mean exactly?”
“Well, in a condo you get 51% telling the other 49% what to do…does that sound good to you?”
“Hell no!” they always answer.
“Good…’cause THAT’S what democracy is”.
I frequently use it as an educational tool to get people to at least question what they think they know. Maybe it could work for you too…I hope so.
Happy Saturnalia!
“Why are the politicos so surprised at this inevitable turn of events with Imperial President, Donald the Trump, here in the bastion of democracy? Maybe because they have long ignored the fact that 23% of Americans live in HOA-LAND, where authoritarian governments rule the people outside the fundamental social contract known as the US Constitution.”
–George K. Staropoli
You give up a lot of rights when you join a homeowner’s association. (and one scumbag neighbor can have a big effect on your life).
Hey…
Let people celebrate whatever.
In fact I started a new hillbilly holiday tradition.
I’m hanging a frozen dog turd and a solar light on a piece of sagebrush.
You people need to catch up.
I’m already started on the pre new years party.
But as always… first I have to catch up on all the celebrities that died in 2017.
One of my guilty pleasures at the end of the year.
Those 9 words keep runnin’ through me brain:
“Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.”
.
Offensive. …
I’ll tell ya what’s. …offensive.
A black hooker that’s a dude on the Vegas strip saying its a virgin.
I don’t fall for that sht anymore.
Its a good thing this cry baby doesn’t live next to me
every day would be a bad day for them